Wire formed pull-tab

ABSTRACT

An easy-opening can end having an end panel in which a single panel-opening score is spaced from the periphery of the panel and extends completely around the panel is provided with a pull-tab consisting of a length of wire which is bent to provide a finger loop with the end portions of the wire juxtaposed and extending outwards from the loop to form a score-rupturing member and the tab is secured to the end panel at a position adjacent to the inner end of the score-rupturing member and inside the panelopening score in a manner such that on raising the finger loop from the end panel the outer end of the score-rupturing member effects rupturing of the score.

Unite States Patent Inventors Jozei Tadeusz Franck WIRE FORMED PULL-TAB 7 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 220/54, 220/48 Int. Cl B65d 17/24 Field of Search 220/48, 54;

3,ol2,34l

Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-imirie and Smiley ABSTRACT: An easy-opening can end having an end panel in which a single panel-opening score is spaced from the periphery of the panel and extends completely around the panel is provided with a pull-tab consisting of a length of wire which is bent to provide a finger loop with the end portions of the wire juxtaposed and extending outwards from the loop to form a scorerupturing member and the tab is secured to the end panel at a position adjacent to the inner end of the score rupturing member and inside the panel-opening score in a manner such that on raising the finger loop from the end panel the outer end of the score-rupturing member effects rupturing of the score.

PATENIED um I 2197: 3

SHEET 1 [IF 6 Inventors JOZEF T- FRANEK PETER RHODES By A Uomeys UCHZIQYI SHEET 2 UF 6 Inventors J'DZEF T FRANEK PETER RHODES By 9W, M M Attorney;

PATEN TEB 0m 12 I9?! SHEET 30F 6 I nvanlors IOZEF FRANEK PETER RHnoss y v W A Ilorneyg PATENIEU on I 2 ml SHEET BF 6 Q Q Q E lnmnlor! EF T. FRANEK P ER RHODES A tlorncys PATENTEDncnzusn v 3512 341 sum 50F 6 To Z E F To FRAN E K Inventor:

PETER RHoDES B u fk aw M Allorneys PATENTEDucn 2 ran 3,512 341 SHEET 8 BF 6 8 7 fig-ii I Irgvmlors J'DZEF T FRANEK PETER RHOD ES By 9W,M1| M Attorneys wins irons mu rots-run This invention relates to can ends made of sheet metal, for example of tinplate, and in particular to a can end of the kind known as easy opening, that is one which includes an end panel scored to facilitate opening and which is provided with a pull tab by which opening is effected, the pull tab being at tached to the can end by means of welding, soldering, brazing, or cementing.

An easy opening can end must be such as to withstand processing temperatures and pressures encountered in a can to which it is fitted and for this purpose the end panel thereof must be of a suitable shape and must not be adversely affected by the attachment of the pull tab thereto. 'lhus, tab attaching methods such as riveting may not be suitable because such methods may adversely affect the performance of the can end. if the can end is used with a can containing food, the method by which the pull tab is attached to the end panel must not disturb the internal protective coatings. Further requirements are that the joint between the end panel and the pull tab must be strong enough to withstand the forces required for rupturing the panel along a portion of the opening score; the addition of the score must not adversely affect the performance of the can end; and the pull tab must be preformed to maintain a functional relationship with the shape of the end panel, and to provide linger access to permit the loop of the tab to be lifted.

it is a main object of the invention to provide a can end which meets the above requirements.

SUMMARY According to the invention there is provided a sheet metal can end comprising an end. panel provided with a single panelopening score spaced from the periphery of the panel and extending completely therearound, and a pull tab overlying the end panel and consisting of a length of wire which is bent to a shape providing a finger loop with end portions of the wire juxtaposed and extending outwardly from the loop to form a score-rupturing member, said tab being secured to the end panel at a position adjacent to the inner end of said member within the panel-opening score and having the outer end of the member closely adjacent to a portion of the panel opening score to effect rupturing thereof on raising of the finger loop from the panel-overlying position thereof.

DESCRllTlON OF THE DRAWlNGS l lti. ll is a top plan of a circular can end according to the invention,

Ill is a section through a part of a can having the can end of hit}. ll fitted thereto,

hit}. 3 is a top plan of the pull tab applied to the can end of f ll ll,

WU. d is a side elevation of Fit 3,

ii is an end view loolring in the direction of arrow V, lFll G.

Ell-S. is a perspective view illustrating the mode of opening the can end,

'f is a section through FlG. d,

is a section illustrating a modification to the can end,

l llG. l is a top plan similar to that of i6. ll but illustrates an alternative form of pull tab applied to the can end,

i ll ll a section through a part of a can having the can end of lFllcl, ll titted thereto,

lFlG. ill is a longitudinal section through the pull tab applied to the can end ot'i lG. ll,

i2 is a section through lFlG. ill, and

iii to ilh are top plan views of alternative forms of can end according to the invention.

in the drawings like reference numerals indicate lilce or similar parts.

DESCllilP'llON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to lFlGS. l to 7, a circular can end is made of sheet tinplate, or other suitable sheet metal such as aluminum, and comprises an end panel l which is provided with a single panel-opening score 2 which is spaced from the periphery of the panel and extends therearound. lo the embodiment shown in the drawings an annular bead It is formed in the panel 1 within the score 2 and is spaced from the score 2 to be upstanding from the plane of the outer face of the panel ll. The end panel l is bounded by a seam-forming flange 4, FIG. l1, by which the can end is seamed to a can body 5, H68. 2, t5 and 7, to form the usual end seam b. A pull tab overlies the end panel ii and consists of a length of wire of circular cross section, see H6. 2 which is bent to form a finger loop 7 with the end portions of the wire juxtaposed to form a score-rupturing member l which extends outwardly from the loop 7. As shown in the drawings the juxtaposed end portions are located on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry 9, H6. 1, of the pull tab and extend from straight loop portions it]! which are substantially at right angles to said plane. The pull tab is bonded to the end panel at the junction between the head 3 and the portion of the end panel extending between the bead and the score 2 and at a position adjacent to the inner end. of the member b as by soldering, welding, brazing, or cementing, l2, FIG. 11, and the extreme end portions 113 lid of the member d are directed towards each other obliquely to the plane of symmetry 9 and abut each other to present a sharp edge to the score 2. In this example the end portions id, M are directed at an angle of 45 to the plme ll. The sharp edge of the member 8 is closely adjacent to a portion of the panel-opening score 2 to effect rupturing of the score 2 on raising of the loop 7 from the panel overlying position thereof. As shown in H6. l, the pull tab is secured along the straight loop portions llll.

To reduce the possibility of solder llftl working along the of the loop 7 the loop portions litl are connected to the sides of the loop by cranks so that the sides of the loop are well clear of the can end. Generally V-shaped bends lid are tormed in the sides of the loop to rest against the end panel l and retain the end portion if of the pull tab joining the bends llti spaced from the end panel l, to facilitate the insertion of a finger into the loop under the end portion l7.

By securing the puli tab to the panel l along the loop portions id there is obtained ajoiarit l -IlllCiTl is sufiiciently strong to withstand the forces required for rupturing of the panel along he portion of the score 2.. with respect to which the end portions l3, are closely adjacent.

When it is desired to obtain access to the contents of the can 5 a finger is inserted into the loop 7 which is then gripped and raised, as indicated by arrow iltl, H6. 7. This causes the ends l3, lid to rupture the pmehopening score 2 and the continued lifting of the pull tab causes a turning movement about a hinge line parallel to the attached portions lb. During raising of the pull tab the bead 3 reinforces the end panel and facilitates the pressing into the can of the end panel portion to which the pull tab is bonded, as shown in H6. 7. When the pull tab has been moved to about the position thereof shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 an upward pull in the direction of arrow 119 H6. 7, causes the portion of the end panel ll bounded by the score 2 to be removed.

llG. fl illustrates a modification to the can end described above which the pull tab is described with reference to lFlGS. to but the score 2 is formed in the head 3 which is of substantially conical form, the score 2 being located substantially at the apex of the cone which is defined by a relatively short planar steep portion 3a and a longer but less steep planar portion 35b to which the portions Ml of the pull tab are secured as described above. With this embodiment, when the loop portion "l of the pull tab is lifted the portion 31) raised relative to the portion Ila so that the score 2 ruptured by the end portion l3 and pulling on the pull tab can effect removal of the can end portion bounded by the score 2.

FIGS. 9 to 12 illustrate a can end similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 but the pull tab is of a modified kind. In this embodiment of the invention the end portions 13, 14 of the member 8 extend at right angles to the portions and abut along the plane 9 of symmetry of the pull tab. The pull tab is bent as at 20, FIGS. 10 and 11, so as to conform substantially to the shape of the bead 3 and the end portions 17 of the pull tab furthermost from the member 8 is bent upwards from the end panel 1 to facilitate the insertion of a finger into the loop under the end portion 17. To facilitate initial rupturing of the score 2 the rupturing member 8 is bent lengthwise thereof so that the free tip of the member 8 projects as shown at T, FIG. 11, below the plane P of the face of the loop 7 which lies on the end panel 1. The mode of rupturing the score 2 is illustrated in FIG. 12 and is as described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIGS. 13 to 16 illustrate other shapes of can-ends formed in accordance with the invention, FIGS. 13 and 14 being can ends of substantially rectangular shape and showing two different positions at which the pull tab can be located, FIG. 15 being a can end of substantially oval shape, and FIG. 16 being a can end of irregular shape. Although FIGS. 13 to I6 are shown provided with a pull tab as described with reference to FIGS. 9 to l 1 it is to be understood that the can ends of FIGS. 13 to 16 can, if desired, be provided with pull tabs as described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

We claim:

1. A sheet metal can end comprising an end panel provided with a single panel-opening score spaced from the periphery of the end panel and extending completely therearound, and a pull tab comprising a wire of circular cross section bent to form a finger loop having sides which extend lengthwise of the plane of symmetry of the tab, straight portions bent from said sides towards each other, said straight portions terminating in end portions which have the cross section of the wire and are bent outwards away from the finger loop, said end portions being directed towards each other obliquely to said plane of symmetry and having abutting faces located substantially in said plane of symmetry thereby to form a sharp score-rupturing edge, said straight portions being directly bonded to said end panel at a position closely adjacent to a portion of the panel-opening score so that on raising of the finger loop from the end panel the score is ruptured by said score-rupturing edge.

2. A can end according to claim 1, wherein said end portion of the wire are directed at an angle of 45 to the plane of symmetry.

3. A can end according to claim 1, including crank portions connecting the sides of the loop to the said straight portions to provide a clearance between the loop and the can end in the region at which the straight portions are bonded to the end panel.

4. A can end according to claim 3, including generally V- shaped bends formed in the sides of the loop and resting against the end panel to space from the end panel the portion of the loop joining the said bends, thereby to facilitate the insertion of a finger into the loop under said portion.

5. A can end according to claim 1, wherein said end portions are bent lengthwise thereof so that the free tips thereof project below the plane of that face of the loop which lies on the end panel.

6. A can end according to claim 1, including a bead located within the panelopening score and extending upwards from the plane of the end panel, and bends formed in the sides of the finger loop to conform substantially to the configuration of and to overlie the bead, said straight portions of the tab being secured to said bead.

7. A can end according to claim 1, including a bead located within the area of the end panel bounded by the panel-opening score and extending upwards from the plane of the end panel, and bends formed in the sides of the finger loop to conform substantially to the configuration of the bead, said straight portions being bonded to the junction between said bead and the portion 0 the end panel extending between the bead and the panel-opening score. 

1. A sheet metal can end comprising an end panel provided with a single panel-opening score spaced from the periphery of the end panel and extending completely therearound, and a pull tab comprising a wire of circular cross section bent to form a finger loop having sides which extend lengthwise of the plane of symmetry of the tab, straight portions bent from said sides towards each other, said straight portions terminating in end portions which have the cross section of the wire and are bent outwards away from the finger loop, said end portions being directed towards each other obliquely to said plane of symmetry and having abutting faces located substantially in said plane of symmetry thereby to form a sharp score-rupturing edge, said straight portions being directly bonded to said end panel at a position closely adjacent to a portion of the panel-opening score so that on raising of the finger loop from the end panel the score is ruptured by said score-rupturing edge.
 2. A can end according to claim 1, wherein said end portion of the wire are directed at an angle of 45* to the plane of symmetry.
 3. A can end according to claim 1, including crank portions connecting the sides of the loop to the said straight portions to provide a clearance between the loop and the can end in the region at which the straight portions are bonded to the end panel.
 4. A can end according to claim 3, including generalLy V-shaped bends formed in the sides of the loop and resting against the end panel to space from the end panel the portion of the loop joining the said bends, thereby to facilitate the insertion of a finger into the loop under said portion.
 5. A can end according to claim 1, wherein said end portions are bent lengthwise thereof so that the free tips thereof project below the plane of that face of the loop which lies on the end panel.
 6. A can end according to claim 1, including a bead located within the panel-opening score and extending upwards from the plane of the end panel, and bends formed in the sides of the finger loop to conform substantially to the configuration of and to overlie the bead, said straight portions of the tab being secured to said bead.
 7. A can end according to claim 1, including a bead located within the area of the end panel bounded by the panel-opening score and extending upwards from the plane of the end panel, and bends formed in the sides of the finger loop to conform substantially to the configuration of the bead, said straight portions being bonded to the junction between said bead and the portion of the end panel extending between the bead and the panel-opening score. 